(Credit: Opera Australia official website)

The Baluarte auditorium in Pamplona has announced a second cast change for its upcoming semi-staged performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.”

The Spanish opera house announced that tenor Walter Fraccaro will take over the role of Des Grieux, replacing Roberto Aronica. This marks the second high-profile replacement after soprano Ainhoa Arteta was forced to cancel due to COVID-19.

Fraccaro recently performed the role of Calaf in Puccini’s “Turandot” at the Opera Australia, and the role of Turiddu in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, among others.

The tenor will join the cast that includes José Antonio López in the role of Lescaut, Carlos Chausson as Geronte de Ravoir, Pablo García López as Edmondo, Nerea Berraondo in the role of Cantante, and Berna Perles in the title role. Manuel Hernández-Silva will conduct the semi-staged production by Susana Gómez.

Performances of “Manon Lescaut” at the Baluarte auditorium are scheduled for Feb. 5 and Feb. 7, 2021.